Is Sims DLC Necessary?

"Calico45;c-17950853" wrote:

"SimSpock;c-17950806" wrote:
The way the question is framed, the only possible answer is "yes", because the base game (TS2, TS3, and TS4) is so terribly limited compared to whatever was in the previous iteration. Thus, it's "necessary" because the entire game is designed for it to be necessary. However, the proper answer is that it shouldn't be necessary. It should be cool, and expand opportunities in an already fleshed out game sufficiently that we want to purchase it. That's the way most DLC work in most (definitely not all) other games. DLC should never be necessary.

That is why I feel this is an interesting conversation to have because DLC is always presented as being optional, whether or not that is really the case. Oftentimes I hear the Sims DLC spoken about as optional, and technically yes we have the ability not to purchase it, but it seems most people feel this is not truly the case. However, since it is still a subjective measure of what is optional and what is not (plus again, the willful purchase it is behind) it is not so simple.

I generally agree with you. A good base game and a good DLC has a general feeling of optional, extra fun. Or should. However, I cannot imagine Sims 2 starting with all 1's pack content plus the base upgrades. Same with on up the ladder. I do not know a way right off the bat that a base game could compare, regardless of how poor Sims 4 is as a base game, beyond this. Plus, as you mentioned, the Sims is not the only game built on a DLC riddled model. I play more than one like this and they have the same problem, often getting criticized for not having enough in the base game. Most try to address this with substantial base game updates along with each DLC released, but theoretically 4 tries to do that, too, no?

So, yeah, I think it is a good conversation to have. Is it necessary? How and why? Should it be? I think they are all pretty linked. I am not sure how the Sims could cut itself from this DLC model. Even a subscription can have expansions, like WOW. (I really do not want a subscription game for a number of reasons I do not need to clutter this thread with.)

Since you say it shouldn't be necessary, what would a Sims game with unnecessary DLC look like?

Ah, now I see why you were asking. In that case, I should have voted "yes".

What should it look like, before any DLC? I'd say that it should look like the core finished product from TS2 and TS3. If we're talking about TS5, then I'd say the core finished product from TS4 as well, whatever that turns out to be. When I say core finished product, I mean the activities, interactions, objects, and overall gameplay opportunities that most people do on a regular basis in the game. Family gameplay through all life stages, carrying on for multiple generations. All of the popular professions; late night activities; athletics including swimming and diving; seasons (that work properly); pets and animals; transportation; world progression system that doesn't require a mod to work properly (or in the case of TS4, require a mod just to have it at all); et cetera. In other words, a fully fleshed out life simulator. DLC should stuff that expands on the scope of those activities, not stuff that adds in those basic activities when they were missing originally.